February 03, 2011

It Had-Another Life

"click on photos to enlarge details"Hand painted and aged with a feel of history to it, signed by myself Dore Callaway 2/2011 Stripped down in the raw, painting than with a soulful brush.

As an artist with a French gypsy brocante style I will paint on almost anything. My favorite works of art seem to create themselves on objects when an item loses its usefulness, it can than be admired for its decorative piece. I love when a piece has acquired age, making it a perfect broncante piece "not quite valued, not quite junk." I invite a piece of brocante into my hands ones that are less than perfect, showing a history of its travels, it than stops it journey once it reaches me. With a paint brush in my bite, and one in my hand I begin my work, remembering to never paint for someone else, but for myself giving it a lightness of touch. Imagining this piece in a French Boulangerie (BAKERY SHOP) while fashioning decadent creations. Could you see this antique foot board restyled from a beautiful full size bed, and now romancing a life given back to it as a featured piece over a counter of service where beautiful cupcakes, French cheesecakes, macaroons, beautifully displayed truffles, and wedding cakes are created. A fine BAKERY SHOP where only the finest touch your taste buds, Oh my, I have talked myself into it, I think I will open my own bakery, only the best for everyone who enters. They will be greeted with a style that's fashioned with love in mind for all things romantic. The art of French living fulfills so many different roles in an understated and elegant way, adding pieces to a space that is also an integral important part of the home. The soul and spirit of this antique foot board gives a home its individuality knowing it was first made with another function in its design. Manteling a piece like this over a white fireplace adds artful drama to the staging of French farmhouse in euro chic cottage style, while endulging "Les Details" of your own homes style.An unlikely cast off foot board turned into a French entry wall panel ready to hang... "Adding style and grace that carries your heart." yours in my etsy!!

Ohhh my goodness...it's magnificent, my friend! I really do love how you can take an old, worn, but well loved item and breathe life back into it! Your antique footboard is certainly proof! What a gifted and talented artist you are, Dore! I just adore your style and sooo wished that you lived closer to me. I would have your paint your fabulous little french garlands and sweet birds...all over my house! Seriously!!! Thank you for sharing this fabulous piece with us...and your creative talents, dear friend! It is always such a treat to come calling at your place!!!

That is so beautiful Dore! I was thinking about you today because I was feathering my nest and set my halltree up with a bird theme! I might be bugging you shortly for a birdie sign to hang above it when I have the funds:)

Oh Dore - this is so beautiful & i love it on your dresser the way you have it displayed - seems as though the two were meant to be found by you! You are amazingly talented & i just love everything you do. Hugs

I am in loss for words. You works is so fantastic. I am in ave each time I see some of your work. This really is a masterpiece.Beutiful and wonderful are lesser words than your work.Hugs!:)Line-Cathrin

Miss Dore~That would look amazing over my bed Ugh! I really am loving it.I am not sure how you can part with it.Your blog header looks awesome, are you happy with it? I think it's perfect.I am off to the coast tomorrow to look at another beach home for sale.Wish me luck! ~Cheers Kim

Just to let you know that I am soooo in Love with my new header for my blog done by you my sweet friend, that I can't get over it! I keep going to my blog just to take another look at it.I am going to do a post as well about it soon, just thinking first.~Cheers Kim

tell me something....did you do this??? I am amazed,impressed,inspired, - and almost out of fords:)I am going straight over to your etsy shop...this was fabulous!!!!!!!!!!!! You are a true magician:))))Tove,NOrway:)

The before and after photos are so striking and tell it all dearest, they show and tell of your immense talent to transform an old "BANAL" piece into the beautiful and SINGING piece that we see here...I wish I could commission you to make me something! I am a good artist, but to know the technique of paint is another story...BRAVO...BIEN FAIT! BISES MA BELLE, Anita

Bonsoir ma chère et precieuse amie! Oh Doré, I would love to have you as my neighbor to just simply see your lovely smile and chat and paint together! What a lovely, lovely comment you left me. I am so tired, but it is the weekend tomorrow, and more fun to be had finishing up the last details of our new addition. There is still a way to go, but tonight we decided to go with linen Roman shades for the windows. My husband does not like drapes that pool to the floor, but I do. I did want however, linen curtains, so I think the Roman shades will do just fine! I can capture elegance in other ways....tomorrow, I will begin to paint our coffee table gray and then give it a thick top coat of white with the gray undertones....I CAN'T WAIT!

Dore thank you so much for the nice comments that you left me!! I love everything about your blog the writing and especially the eye candy. All your paintings are fab I love how soft and worn they all look. You truly have a gift.

Dore it is just stunning!! Like I said before, you amaze me in so many ways with not only your talent in painting and design but also the way you breath life into something that has long forgotten how to live. And I would love to sit in your bakery on a beautiful Spring day enjoying so many treats and wonderful conversation.

Hello dear! I know I sound like a broken record, but seriously, there is no end to the magic you pull out of your hat! If I have missed any posts of your home, I must root around and find them because I can only imagine the beautiful world you have created! I just saw Tangled and if you see it, you remind me of the princess and how she paints her magic on everything :) XO

Hello Dore...So beautiful things you create with your paint brushes !I'm a decorative painter, living and working in Iceland, and I'm also changing things with my brushes.Love your blog and everything hand painted ;)auskula

Oh my goodness Dore,This piece is exceptionally beautiful!! You have such a gift for painting, I would die to have a piece this amazing.You truly out did yourself my friend!Have a lovely day.Sincerely,Melinda

Hi Dore,I just came over to see how my sweet friend is doing today!!! I love your blog header!!! I have a new one too and just posted my new jewelry on my blog...I'm excited! Let me tell you, your work is ASTOUNDING!!!!Love,Cindy

Dear Dore, thank you very much for stopping by my blog, loving it and always tell me so!..I appreciate it very much and have to say that your blog is so very inspiring and much loved!What you do with those paintbrushes of your's... awesome!happy valentine's to you...xoxo Colette ~Afrique du Sud

BONJOUR MA CHÈRE!!!! Oh Doré, I am so glad that you got and are ENJOYING my drawing on the Valentine! AND YOUR VISIT, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I am SO behind in answering comments because we spent ALL WEEKEND moving and hauling, painting AGAIN and rearranging. Our house is getting more organized, but it was a real mess. THANK YOU AGAIN for your wonderful friendship, and I hope to share more pictures soon of the developments. It is getting more texture now, but we still need the electrician to hang the crystal chandelier. SO MUCH FUN, BUT SO MUCH WORK!!!

You are remarkably talented. I LOVE what you did to transform this piece... It is "Magnificent"!!! I LOVE the subtle addition of the birds, "One of my VERY FAVORITE subjects"... I am going to be checking out your ETSY store... If you'd like I would LOVE to have you peek into "My Land of Blog too".Have a wonderful Valentine's Week,Donna

I think I have surely died and gone to heaven. This is so unbelievably gorgeous! I am so inspired, and think you have just given me an idea for a little dilemma I have! :) If it works out, I will be sure to link to you!

And by the way, I would give anything~ ANYTHING~ to paint birds like you do! I like to draw them, but painting them just seems so daunting! I am afraid to try, because I am sure it will not go well! :) I can guarantee they would not look like yours!

And thank you so much for your sweet comment and advice to the question about the vanity. I love the idea of aging the mirror, and think I am going to go with this! And I do know what you mean about chalkboards...But my new love is galvanized metal~ or anything metal, so I am right with you on what you said in your comment! We think alike! :)

I hope you are doing well, my friend, AND that you have a beautiful weekend!

GRAY IS THE WAY!!!! Oh Doré my sweet friend, merci beaucoup pour tes mots de tendresse, pour ton encouragement et aussi l'amour de GRIS!!! Isn't gray a fabulous canvas upon which to create a peaceful environment? And because the natural STONE colors go so well with it, we can create an organic feeling with elegance in our homes. Thank you for coming and always being so uplifting. You are such a special friend and I send you many hugs of gratitude for your loyalty. MILLE BISES! Anita

Oh Dore!I have missed visiting you...sorry I have been behind on catching up with everyone! I just love this piece! I would love to open up a bakery some day! This piece would would make the perfect back drop! You are amazing!Lisa

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French musing

About Me

I am French and Irish born in Southern California, yet spent a great number of years in the bay area of Northern California. When I moved back to the Southern part in 1986-87 I was on the brink of a new life. I have two children, a son Travis, and a daughter Hannah who have a beauty in expressing who they are. I am in the field of interior design, interior designer and home stager in decorating estate model homes residential, and commercial designs.
A design shop in the bay area co-opted with my mother was the strongest influence in the start of it all. Artist in fine art. My favorite time of any day is making time to create. I love to recycle and reimage found objects that then find their way into the hands and homes of a new place to rest.